Average reaction time at age 31
A typical untrained 31-year-old averages about 259 ms on a simple visual reaction test — 9 ms off the lifetime peak reached around age 24.
Reaction time follows a U-shaped curve across life: children start slow, speed peaks in the mid-20s at about 250 ms, and the average drifts gently upward afterwards. Here's exactly where age 31 sits on that curve — and why the number is less fixed than it looks.
Age 31 on the curve
| Age | Expected average |
|---|---|
| 21 years old | 256 ms |
| 26 years old | 252 ms |
| 31 years old | 259 ms |
| 36 years old | 268 ms |
| 41 years old | 279 ms |
Placed on the overall adult distribution (mean 273 ms), an average 31-year-old's 259 ms is faster than about 59.2% of all adults. Being younger than the population average has its perks.
What's happening at this age
From the mid-20s the average drifts upward by only a few milliseconds per decade — far less than most people fear. At 31, the expected average is 259 ms, just 9 ms off the lifetime peak.
The differences between people dwarf the differences between ages here: a trained 31-year-old comfortably beats an untrained 22-year-old. Experience also sharpens anticipation, which wins duels even when raw speed ties.
How to beat the curve at 31
- Consistency beats intensity: 5 minutes daily maintains speed that two decades of ageing barely touches.
- Watch the boring variables — sleep, caffeine timing, screen latency — before blaming age for a slow week.
- Train the general way that works at any age: short daily sessions, full attention, ten-round averages. The complete method is in how to improve your reaction time.